12.07.2015 Views

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

1680-83.] INTRIGUES AGAINST HIM. 33?robbed me are not to be believed on <strong>the</strong>ir word,deserters <strong>and</strong> thieves as <strong>the</strong>y are. They are readyenough to find some pretext for <strong>the</strong>ir crime ; <strong>and</strong> itneeds as unjust a judge as <strong>the</strong> intendant to promptsuch rascals to enter complaints against a person towhom he had given a warrant to arrest <strong>the</strong>m. But,to show <strong>the</strong> falsity <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se charges, Martin Chartier,who was one <strong>of</strong> those who excited <strong>the</strong> rest to do as<strong>the</strong>y did, was never with me at all ; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> rest hadmade <strong>the</strong>ir plot before seeing me." And he proceedsto relate, in <strong>great</strong> detail, a variety <strong>of</strong> circumstancesto prove that his men had been instigated first todesert, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n to sl<strong>and</strong>er him; adding, "Thosewho remain with me are <strong>the</strong> first I had, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>yhave not left me for six years."" I have a hundred o<strong>the</strong>r pro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bad counselgiven to <strong>the</strong>se deserters, <strong>and</strong> will produce <strong>the</strong>m whenwanted; but as <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong>mselves are <strong>the</strong> only witnesses<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> severity <strong>the</strong>y complain <strong>of</strong>, while <strong>the</strong>witnesses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ircrimes are unimpeachable, why amI refused <strong>the</strong> justice I dem<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> why is <strong>the</strong>irsecret escape connived at?" I do not know what you mean by having popularimanners. There is nothing special in my food,clothing, or lodging, which are all <strong>the</strong> same for meas for my men. How can it be that I do not talkwith <strong>the</strong>m? I have no o<strong>the</strong>r company. M. deTonty has <strong>of</strong>ten found fault with me because Istopped too <strong>of</strong>ten to talk with <strong>the</strong>m. You do notknow <strong>the</strong> men one must employ here, when you22

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!